Taunton could become cultural ‘dead zone’, arts trustee says

The council published its cultural strategy delivery plan in June, which lays out its priorities for promoting and improving Somerset’s cultural offering over the next decade – and which includes the significant investment in the Octagon Theatre.

Taunton resident Chris Waddilove, a trustee of Arts Taunton, said Somerset’s county town was being “neglected” and called on the council to invest in the Gaumount Palace (currently leased by Mecca Bingo) as a multi-purpose venue.

The council responded that it was working to promote numerous different forms of culture in Somerset and that reopening the Gaumont would not necessarily meet Taunton’s future needs.

Mr Waddilove, who has lived in Taunton for 21 years, addressed the full council on the subject when it met in Bridgwater on Wednesday afternoon (July 17).

The Octagon Theatre in Yeovil. (Image: Daniel Mumby)

He said: “There seems to be a fatal contradiction in the plan because a key part of it, as we know, is the development of a ‘flagship cultural hub’ for the county in Yeovil, based on the regeneration of the Octagon Theatre.

“Now, I have lived all these years in Taunton.

“I love theatre, dance and live music, but never once in all that time have I travelled from Taunton to the Octagon for an event – for the simple reason I have no car and, of course, cannot get to Yeovil by public transport and back the same evening.

“It is much easier to get to Bristol or Exeter for an evening out than it is to Yeovil.

“This hub, which seems to be absorbing all the money coming from the government for the arts in Somerset, will be of no benefit to me and thousands like me who love the arts and live entertainment, but who do not own a car and do not live in the purlieus of Yeovil.

“I simply do not understand how it is possible to come up with a cultural strategy for the county that does not recognise that geographically we need at least two cultural hubs – Yeovil for the east and Taunton for the west.

“Why are we so neglected?”

The Brewhouse Theatre has a capacity in 350. (Image: Darren Honeywill)

Mr Waddilove said that Taunton was currently struggling to compete with Bristol and Exeter due to the relatively small size of its venues.

He said: “Provision for live entertainment in our town is lamentable.

“The Brewhouse does its best, but with a capacity of 350, it is so limited in what it can offer – and the biggest auditorium we have, believe it or not, is the Minster, which can only seat 500 and has other obvious drawbacks.

“I am particularly concerned about the lack of live music. If pub bands or tribute bands or small classical or choral works are not your bag, there is nothing at all by way of live music in the town. This is scandalous.

“When the shops shut, the town becomes a dead zone, even on Fridays and Saturdays. There needs to be an urgent plan for the regeneration of Taunton.

“This town needs to find a new identity to revive its fortunes – rather than the barely managed decline we have currently.

“A cultural hub would in many people’s opinions be an exciting and realistic plan to bring footfall, economic prosperity and night-life back to the town.

“And there is a building right in the centre of the town that could be the epicentre of that cultural hub. I speak of course of the entertainment centre that opened in 1932 as the Gaumont Palace, doubling as both cinema and variety theatre, now Mecca Bingo.

“It is a magnificent building with a seating capacity of 1,200, still in an excellent state of repair, with a gorgeous art deco interior, which could be brought back at relatively low cost as a first-rate live music venue and developed as the multi-purpose arts centre and community hub that we so need.”

Somerset West and Taunton Council acquired the Gaumont Palace site in January 2020 for £2.1m, as part of a wider strategy of acquiring commercial property to provide funding for front-line services through rents.

The building automatically transferred to Somerset Council on April 1, 2023, when the five existing councils were abolished, with Mecca Bingo still holding the lease on the facility.

Mr Waddilove concluded: “The Mecca Bingo lease terminates at the end of 2027 – so, anything should be possible.

“I belong to a community group which has just been registered by the Financial Conduct Authority as the Gaumont Palace Cooperative Community Benefit Trust.

“We are determined that this great building should be secure as a community asset in perpetuity.

“We would love to begin a dialogue with the council about this – and we must plan for a second cultural hub for the county as the only fair and practical way ahead.”

The approved masterplan for the Firepool regeneration site includes the potential delivery of a multi-purpose venue (MPV), which will be funded in part through the sale of 430 homes within the site.

Councillor Federica Smith-Roberts, portfolio holder for communities, housing and culture,  agreed that Taunton needed a larger venue but said the Gaumont site was not the solution to this problem.

Responding directly to Mr Waddilove, she said: “I actually think Taunton has got lots of arts and culture going on for it. I do believe that it does need a larger venue, but I don’t think that Taunton has a lamentable cultural offering.

“There are lots of thinking going on at the Brewhouse and CICCIC.

“There is a place potentially for a larger venue outside of the Minster, but you also have the cricket ground and Vivary Park doing things over the summer.

“The Gaumont Theatre was bought as a investment decision. That has a sitting tenant and they are exercising their rights to the lease.

“That isn’t expected to expire until at least 2028, and it does provide a different type of culture for people – people who want to go and play bingo.

“The building also served as a warm hub at times.”

The council’s cultural strategy will be subject to further discussion over the summer ahead of its formal adoption.

Ms Smith-Roberts said discussions were continuing with the government over the revised Octagon Theatre regeneration plans, which will be delivered through a mixture of central government funding, contributions from Yeovil Town Council and other grants.

She said: “We continue to work with DCMS because we want to secure the £10m grant.

“Culture will continue to thrive in Somerset, and we need to celebrate it in its many different forms.”